As you know from previous posts, I enjoy the trails of Woodbury quite a bit. A few times now, I've come across deer on those trails — especially when I'm over by Dancing Waters.
It's quite disconcerning to be jamming to Prince and then there's an 8-pointer standing in front of you.
Have others run across this in that area? I can't say I'm surprised. Stonemill Farms and Dancing Waters were formally corn and cow pastures — prime deer feeding areas.
So what does a human do when face-to-face with this wild beast? Well, first, they are just as scared as seeing you as you are of them. When I ran into that 8-pointer earlier, I took two steps toward it and poof! It bounced off in the woods. (Deer prance and bounce, never walk.)
But, just like the many geese we have in town, deer can be territorial, and if it's rut season (i.e. mating season) you could see a buck take a step toward you or even paw the ground. And it's getting to be high time for rut season in Minnesota right now. You can tell it's rut season when you see scraps and rubs on trees as the deer are shedding the velvet on their antlers. It's itchy stuff!
If you do run into a deer in rut season and you feel threatened, then you need to be loud i.e. yelling or banging on a tree by you with a large stick. Most likely any movement you do will scare off the deer.
And be careful driving on Settler's Ridge at dusk — prime deer playing time. I almost ran into two deer just last week on that road.
Curious if Woodbury allowed urban hunting, I called the Police and Public Safety Safety number 651-714-3794 and spoke to Janet. She was very nice to send me the most recent proposed draft for hunting access. (Note the words "draft" and "proposed.")
Lo and behold, there is hunting available by Manning Avenue. BUT you must ask for landowner permission. This is not public hunting.
Also, you must get a permit from Woodbury. See more on their site here: http://www.ci.woodbury.mn.us/police-department/permits-a-licenses/hunting-and-shooting-permit
@Eric - I can't imagine rolling down a corner and boom! There's a deer. I'd probably fall off my bike.
Seriously, I didn't have much of a chance to react. It was turn-the-corner-HELLO?-swerve-hey-that-was-a-deer. Not like when I was climbing the little incline near the Ramsey County jail/workhouse and had a fox jogging next to me. Kept looking at me as if to say, "Is that all the faster you go?"